Security Camera Helps Nab Thief

A man who reportedly stole a riding lawnmower from a home outside of Selma is behind bars thanks in part to a doorbell security camera.

On May 26th, a resident of Bluegrass Road happened to be spending the night in Knightdale. Around 5:30am that morning, the security camera app on her cell phone awakened her to activity at her Selma home. The victim watched a man pull into her yard with a truck and trailer and steal her riding lawnmower.

The victim immediately notified the Johnston County Sheriff’s Office who attempted to locate the vehicle but were not successful.

The victim was able to email video footage of the vehicle to investigators. Detectives were quickly able to identify 39 year-old Jeremy Ray Crawford of Goldsboro as the suspect. On May 28th the $1,500 riding lawnmower was recovered. On May 30th, Crawford was located and charged with felony larceny and possession of stolen property.

Crawford was also served with outstanding warrants for his arrest from Wayne County for larceny, possession of methamphetamines, possession of drug paraphernalia and resisting a public officer. He was also wanted by Kenly Police for warrants charging him with common law robbery and assault with a deadly weapon. Crawford was also served with two warrants for failing to appear in court in Wayne County for driving on a revoked license and driving left of center.